The Chinese military is planning to conduct a large-scale landing drill off Hainan Island in the South China Sea in August to simulate the possible seizure of the Taiwanese-held Pratas Island in the future, Chinese sources familiar with the matter have said.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army is becoming increasingly concerned about the growing U.S. military presence in the South China Sea, and such a drill could escalate tensions. The U.S. Navy said on Thursday it had sailed a guided-missile destroyer through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
Pratas Island, located in the middle of the route from China’s military base on Hainan Island to the Pacific Ocean, is strategically important for China’s advance into the Pacific Ocean. China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, was also deployed last December to the base on Hainan, increasing pressure on the Chinese military to capture the islet.
The Southern Theater Command, which is in charge of protecting the South China Sea, will mobilize an unprecedented level of forces, including marines, landing ships, hovercrafts and helicopters.
The island, known by the Chinese as Dongsha Island, is home to a small airfield used mainly by the Taiwanese military.
Maj. Gen. Lin Wen-huang, who heads an operations and planning office at the Taiwan Defense Ministry, was quoted by Taiwanese media as saying that the ministry is monitoring movements of “hostile forces,” adding that it has contingency plans in place for the South China Sea and that work to strengthen combat readiness and defense preparedness in the area will not stop.
U.S. electronic warfare aircraft have frequently been flying near Pratas Island to gather intelligence on the Chinese military, with some reports recording 13 flights in April alone. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has also been beefing up relationships with the administration of Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen, and China regards the U.S. military presence as “joint military conduct with Taiwan.” Tsai will be sworn in for her second and final term on Wednesday.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army is becoming increasingly concerned about the growing U.S. military presence in the South China Sea, and such a drill could escalate tensions. The U.S. Navy said on Thursday it had sailed a guided-missile destroyer through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
Pratas Island, located in the middle of the route from China’s military base on Hainan Island to the Pacific Ocean, is strategically important for China’s advance into the Pacific Ocean. China’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, was also deployed last December to the base on Hainan, increasing pressure on the Chinese military to capture the islet.
The Southern Theater Command, which is in charge of protecting the South China Sea, will mobilize an unprecedented level of forces, including marines, landing ships, hovercrafts and helicopters.
The island, known by the Chinese as Dongsha Island, is home to a small airfield used mainly by the Taiwanese military.
Maj. Gen. Lin Wen-huang, who heads an operations and planning office at the Taiwan Defense Ministry, was quoted by Taiwanese media as saying that the ministry is monitoring movements of “hostile forces,” adding that it has contingency plans in place for the South China Sea and that work to strengthen combat readiness and defense preparedness in the area will not stop.
U.S. electronic warfare aircraft have frequently been flying near Pratas Island to gather intelligence on the Chinese military, with some reports recording 13 flights in April alone. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has also been beefing up relationships with the administration of Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen, and China regards the U.S. military presence as “joint military conduct with Taiwan.” Tsai will be sworn in for her second and final term on Wednesday.
China to conduct major military drill simulating seizure of Taiwan-held island
The Chinese military is planning to conduct a large-scale landing drill off Hainan Island in the South China Sea in August to simulate the possible seizure of the Taiwanese-held Pratas Island in the future, Chinese sources familiar with the matter have said.
www.japantimes.co.jp